Valentines Day – A Brief History of – By Lee Farghaly

For some, Valentines Day is a chance to embrace commercialism and guilt your partner into date night, for others it’s a reminder of another day when they’d rather not be single, whilst for others it’s a chance to be a full on romantic. Regardless of your feelings on the day, it’s really interesting to know how it originally all began.

It’s quite possible that the St. Valentine that inspired the holiday may have been more than one man. But the saint officially recognised by the Roman Catholic Church was a real person who died around AD 270.

Valentine was described as a priest who was beheaded by Emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples wed. The Emperor had banned marriage because he believed that single men made better soldiers as they had fewer attachments.

‘Some believe that the reason we celebrate Valentines Day on the February 14th is to mark the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death’

Valentine thought this was unfair so he celebrated the marriages in secret. But when the Emperor found out he was thrown in jail and sentenced to death. Some believe that the reason we celebrate Valentines Day on the February 14th is to mark the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death.

It is thought Valentines greetings originated when Valentine sent somebody a letter whilst in prison, and signed it ‘from your Valentine’.

Valentines cards have grown into one of the most commonplace traditions worldwide, with around 1 billion sold every year, with Christmas being the only event which outsells it. Of those 1 billion sold, around 72 million end up getting posted through my letterbox each year. Yes it’s an absolute nightmare.

Around 10% of all marriage proposals for the year happen on Valentines Day, so now’s the time if you’ve been thinking about it!

If you’ve also been thinking about your job and how you want to find a job you will Love, now is the time! Get in touch with us today!